Kristina Edmunson: Do your part to help Oregonians get jabbed.
If something seems too good to be true, it probably is! The same rule applies, apparently, for a coveted vaccine.
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Kristina is the Communications Director for the Oregon Department of Justice. She is a 6th generation Oregonian.
Scammers are Cashing in on the Vaccine
We are now almost two months into the first Covid-19 shots being put into the arms of frontline Oregonians. Or, as the British are fond of saying, “the first jabs have arrived!” What an exciting moment the end of 2020 was when the vaccine came to Oregon.
But, just as quickly as our excitement grew, a new anxiety swept over us—how would we be able to vaccinate all these Oregonians? We started to see images of older adults in Florida, Texas, and California waiting hours in cars or in folding chairs for their coveted chance at vaccination. Some older adults got their shots right away, while some left after hours of waiting at vaccination sites without getting their jab. It all seemed so messy.
Last week, Oregon joined other states by opening up the vaccine to Oregonians age 80 and above. Those 65-years-old and above will become eligible over the following few weeks. The Oregon Health Authority, hospital systems, and volunteers are working hard to make sure this happens in a timely—and organized—fashion.
There simply is not enough vaccine to go around, so everybody must be patient. This also means that scammers have plenty of time to prey on older adults who are desperate for the Covid-19 vaccine.
So, if you are over 65, or are helping somebody sort through the maze of how to get the vaccine, please pay special attention. Know that only an official source (like a doctor’s office, or county health facility) will call you completely out of the blue to offer you an appointment for a vaccine. You should never pay for a vaccine or pay somebody to find you a timeslot or make you a reservation for the vaccine. Those are red flags it is a scam.
Unfortunately, we have already heard reports of the Spanish speaking community and others in Oregon being targeted by scammers.
How to Help
In Oregon, most appointments for the vaccine are being run by the county health department, and the majority of people will sign up for an appointment online. The Get Vaccinate Oregon tool is available in 11 languages. Oregonians can also call 211, or text ORCOVID to 898211 for assistance. There are plenty of Oregonians out there who may not have reliable internet, or may not be comfortable signing up online.
So, please share these important tips:
Don’t pay to sign up for the vaccine. Anyone who asks for money or a gift card is a scammer.
Ignore ads for the vaccine. The vaccine is only available at federal and state locations. You cannot buy it anywhere.
Watch for texts or emails. If you get a text or an email about the vaccine, call your health care provider or pharmacist directly to make sure they actually sent the text or email. Do not click on links.
Don’t share personal information. Nobody from a health clinic, doctor office or pharmacy will call, text, or email you asking for credit card, social security numbers or bank account information. The only thing you may need for the vaccine is your identification, or health insurance or Medicare card. Leave the social security and credit card at home.
We all need to do our part to make sure ALL Oregonians who want the vaccine get it. Community groups are making sure older Oregonians who don’t live in a metro area have the transportation, assistance or other resources to sign up for the vaccine. If you can help a friend, neighbor or family member sort through all of this—please do!
And, remember one of life’s best lessons: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is! The same rule applies, apparently, for a coveted vaccine.
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